HEADLINES
Fall 2014
A GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Greetings from the Seaford High School Guidance Staff!!
Mrs. Goldstein, Ms. Cosenza, Mrs. Pimentel, Ms. Forman (leave replacement) & Mr. Stazzone, Guidance Chair
ATTENTION SENIORS!
College application time has arrived. Please make sure you are monitoring the progress of all supplemental pieces to your application: Essay, Letters of Recommendations, SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Test and Activities Resume. Colleges will not review an incomplete application!
Have you had your Senior Meeting yet with your Guidance Counselor? The counselors are prepared to assist you throughout the application process and provide you with personalized strategies to meet your goals. Complete all steps detailed on the ‘Attention Seniors’ form and contact Guidance for an appointment.
College representatives are providing private information sessions for Seaford students throughout the fall. See the entire list of schools visiting Seaford HS on your Naviance account (Colleges tab). Stop in Guidance to review the list and sign up today.
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT:
“Financing a College Education”
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014, 6:30PM
Seaford High School Auditorium
***Guest Speaker***
Mr. Alfred Gangemi
Student Financial Services Counselor
New York Institute of Technology
Reminder: College deadlines are non-negotiable!! Manage your time to remain in front of the varying application deadlines all colleges have. See reverse side of Tracking Form for Guidance deadlines.
ATTENTION JUNIORS!
The PSAT exam is a great opportunity to get one last practice experience in before the SAT arrives this spring. The details are as follows:
PSAT Exam: Saturday, October 18th, 2014
8:00AM
Seaford High School
Registration: Begins Monday September 29th, 2014
Cost: $25
Sign up in Guidance Office
As Juniors, you are now eligible for the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) based on your PSAT results. Good Luck!!
Reminder: Juniors are welcome to attend college information sessions this fall. Visit the Guidance Office to sign up and get a jump-start on college exploration.
ATTENTION SOPHOMORES!
This year, you are encouraged to take the PSAT exam as well. Although ineligible for the NMSQT, we believe practice and exposure to this test helps ease the transition to the SAT exam next year. See details within the Junior section of this newsletter.
It is important to build off the foundation you established last year. Increase rigor academically, get more involved in extracurricular activities and continue to develop relationships with the faculty and staff.
Reminder: The Guidance Office believes Sophomores should take a proactive approach towards college exploration. Along with the PSAT, Sophomores are welcome to attend the College Planning Night in January and college campus visits this Spring.
ATTENTION FRESHMEN!
We hope the first couple of weeks in the high school have exceeded your expectations and built more excitement about your future. Do not hesitate to visit the Guidance Office to discuss any questions or concerns you have with your Guidance Counselor. We will be here and working closely with you throughout all four years leading to graduation.
Hopefully you had an opportunity to take advantage of our extracurricular club fair and will look to get involved in some of the many opportunities available to you.
Reminder: Every course you take throughout high school is documented on your transcript. Due to this, you are, in fact, preparing for college beginning this year. Lets establish a clear message that you are ready to accept the academic challenges of high school. We believe in you!
2014 SAT PROGRAM TEST SCHEDULE-
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
TESTS / DATES / REGISTRATION DEADLINESAT I&II* / October 11 / September 12
SAT I&II* / November 8 / October 9
SAT I&II / December 6 / November 6
*Indicates tests will be given at Seaford High School.
Note: Students with approved testing accommodations by the CollegeBoard MUST remember to input their SSD # upon registration. Without this, students will be registered to take the exam without accommodations. See your Guidance Counselor with any questions.
2014 ACT PROGRAM TEST SCHEDULE
DATES / REGISTRATION DEADLINESeptember 13 / August 8
October 25 / September 19
December 13 / November 7
Seaford High School is NOT a testing site for the ACT. All exams must be scheduled at neighboring sites.
Note: Accommodations for the ACT exam must be applied for when submitting your application for the exam itself. This is different than the SAT exam. See your Guidance Counselor with any questions.
KAPLAN Test Prep
Looking for a convenient way to learn testing strategies and improve your scores? Seaford High School and KAPLAN Test Prep are working together to offer Seaford students an opportunity to prepare for upcoming exams this fall. For more details go to: http://www.kaplanatschool/seaford
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS):
This organization is an amazing way to showcase your academic ability and your community service. Recently inducted students must accumulate 40 community service hours (15 hours must be dedicated towards tutoring) and maintain their 90+ unweighted grade point average. Upcoming events include: Kindergarten Buddies at Seaford Manor School, Mary Brennan Soup Kitchen in Hempstead and working with senior citizens at the Seaford Public Library on modern technology (computers, cell phones, etc.)
Any questions?? Please contact Ms. Schwartz, National Honor Society Advisor at:
COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER:
All students are welcome to utilize the Guidance College & Career Center during scheduled lunch and study hall periods. Please locate the sign-in sheet so we may monitor all traffic coming and going. The center may be used for college and career exploration, small study groups, homework, research for school projects, etc.
PARENT PORTAL:
Parent Portal is accessible online from the school’s website. Viewable data such as test/quiz results, project grades and homework assignments are available for you to monitor. Contact teachers directly with questions regarding your child’s status in their class.
If you need assistance logging in to your account, please contact the high school technology office at (516)592-4367.
STUDENT SUPPORT:
There are numerous ways a student may receive extra help support for any class they are enrolled in. They include, but are not limited to:
*Teacher office hours- Teacher’s classroom, 2:00PM-2:20PM, Everyday! Teachers are available for voluntary walk-ins.
*NHS tutoring center- HS Library, 2:20PM-3:00PM, Mon-Thurs! NHS students are available for voluntary walk-ins by subject.
*Peer tutoring- Applications are available on school webpage. Tutoring program runs from: October 1st, 2014 - April 30th, 2015.
NCAA:
For students who are interested in playing intercollegiate athletics, it is important to select high school courses that will meet all NCAA core requirements (for both Division I and II). Refer to the Seaford High School Course Handbook when making appropriate course selections. Courses indicated as “NCAA Approved” are those that have been cleared by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are marked with the NCAA logo:
Each Division (I, II & III) have different eligibility standards.
Visit: www.eligibilitycenter.org for details. See your Guidance Counselor with any questions.
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***Do you have topics that you would like to see in the next issue of “Headlines”? All suggestions would be welcome! Contact Mr. Stazzone in the Guidance Office or you can e-mail him at:
Student Contributions are welcome!!